The UK women's team is counting on a talented sophomore class to help build on the success of the past two seasons, during which the Cats went 53-17 and made trips to the NCAA Tournament in both years. Pictured are: front row, left to right, Jennifer O'Neill, Bernisha Pinkett and Kastine Evans; back row, left to right, Samarie Walker, Samantha Drake and Maegan Conwright. Walker, a transfer from UConn, will be eligible in
mid-December.

The UK women's team is counting on a talented sophomore class to help build on the success of the past two seasons, during which the Cats went 53-17 and made trips to the NCAA Tournament in both years. Pictured are: front row, left to right, Jennifer O'Neill, Bernisha Pinkett and Kastine Evans; back row, left to right, Samarie Walker, Samantha Drake and Maegan Conwright. Walker, a transfer from UConn, will be eligible in
mid-December.

UK women player profiles

Vitals: The 6-foot freshman forward/guard originally signed with West Virginia, but was released from her letter and was a late addition for UK. She is from Plainfield, N.J. (Nazareth Regional High School). Ranked the 36th best guard in the class of 2011 by ESPN HoopGurlz. She averaged 12 points, five rebounds and two steals as a high school senior. Her major is undergraduate studies.

Matthew Mitchell says: "Came in in a tough situation. Got here in August when the rest of the kids got here in June. That was difficult for her. (She) fits in well with our style of play. With time, I look for her to give us tremendous effort and energy."

Azia Bishop

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Vitals: The 6-foot-3 freshman post player was ranked the 34th best player in the Class of 2011 by ESPN HoopGurlz. She is from Toledo, Ohio (Start High School). Averaged 16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks as a high school senior. Chose UK over Ohio State. Her major is undergraduate studies.

Matthew Mitchell says: "She's 6-3, all arms and legs. Really, really long arms. Very, very mobile. ... She has a lot of skill, is a very good shooter from the outside. I think people are going to be excited about her."

Maegan Conwright

Vitals: The versatile 5-foot-8 sophomore guard plays all over the floor defensively. Played in 33 games and started 11 last season as a true freshman, averaging 6.2 points and 2.5 rebounds. She is from Arlington, Texas (Timberview High School). Her major is integrated strategic communications.

Matthew Mitchell says: "Maegan is a unique player because she can literally play all five positions (defensively) for us. That makes her very valuable to us. She has just played outstanding in the pre-season."

Samantha Drake

Vitals: The 6-foot-3 sophomore post player played in 26 games last season, making nine starts. She averaged 3.2 points and 3 rebounds and shot 36.4 percent from the floor. She is from Bardstown (Nelson County High School). Her major is kinesiology.

Matthew Mitchell says: "I think you are going to notice her physically, that she has progressed and looks more the part of a high-level Division I post player. ... She's had a good off-season. I need to do a good job trying to help her understand how good she can be and to focus on the right things and not get down on herself. If that happens, you are going to see some great things from Samantha Drake."

Kastine Evans

Vitals: The 5-foot-8 sophomore guard played in 34 games as a freshman, with 13 starts. She averaged 2.6 points and 2.4 rebounds. She is from Salem, Conn. (Norwich Free Academy). Her major is business management.

Matthew Mitchell says: "The player I am looking for to make the biggest jump is Kastine. She has been the hardest worker, something we really try to value in our program. I'm excited to see her, think she is going to make a major contribution to our team this year."

Bria Goss

Vitals: The 5-foot-10 freshman guard was a McDonald's All-American last season and Indiana's Miss Basketball. She was ranked the No. 17 player in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz. She is from Indianapolis (Ben Davis High School). She averaged 21.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 3.2 assists as a high school senior. She chose UK over Maryland, South Carolina, Purdue and Indiana. Her major is undergraduate studies.

Matthew Mitchell says: "Looks really good. Really good kid. Has been about all the right things. Has worked really, really hard, gotten into tremendous shape. She is as good as advertised."

Brittany Henderson

Vitals: The 6-foot-2 junior forward played in 34 games last season, starting 22. She averaged 5.1 points and 5.5 rebounds, and hit the game-winning shot against LSU in Memorial Coliseum last season. She is from Pasadena, Calif. (John Muir High School). Her major is hospitality management.

Matthew Mitchell says: "She is the poster child for what we are trying to be about at Kentucky. She's gotten a lot better from the first day she stepped on our campus. ... I think she could possibly be a double-digit scorer for us this year. That's how much she's improved."

A'dia Mathies

Vitals: The 5-foot-9 junior guard has started 69 of 70 games during her UK career. She was the 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore, she moved from wing to point guard to replace the injured Amber Smith and earned second-team All-SEC honors after averaging 12.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.2 steals. She is from Louisville (Iroquois High School). Her major is psychology.

Matthew Mitchell says: "As everybody that has watched her play (knows), just an unbelievable talent. Could be one of the best players in the country if she can just stay steady, not try to do too much."

Jennifer O'Neill

Vitals: The fiery 5-foot-6 sophomore guard played in 30 games last season, three of them starts. She averaged 5.1 points for the season, but 7.3 in SEC contests. She was the first female McDonald's All-American signed by Kentucky. She'll miss the early part of the season after fracturing a bone in her right foot. She is from the Bronx, N.Y. (Saint Michael Academy). Her major is kinesiology.

Matthew Mitchell says: "(The injury), obviously, is disappointing for her and for us. She'd been shooting the ball great. A year older, more mature and has definitely worked on her body and strength and conditioning in the off-season."

Bernisha Pinkett

Vitals: The 5-foot-7 sophomore guard played in 34 games last season as a redshirt freshman, starting the last eight. She had 10 double-figure scoring games. She averaged 7 points and 2.8 rebounds. She is from Washington, D.C. (Howard D. Woodson High School). Her major is kinesiology.

Matthew Mitchell says: "Can do a lot of things for us defensively. Can guard the ball, get our defense started. Shoots the ball well from three and has really improved her mid-range jumper. I look for another good year out of Bernisha."

Crystal Riley

Vitals: The 5-foot-5 senior point guard played in 32 games last season with one start. She averaged 2.8 points and 1.1 assists. Originally signed with LSU, but transferred to UK midway through her freshman year. She is from Memphis (Hillcrest High School). Her major is kinesiology.Matthew Mitchell says: "Her job, when Amber (Smith, the starting point guard) goes out, is to push tempo. Crystal has been fantastic at that. I'm looking for a big senior season out of Crystal."

Amber Smith

Vitals: The 5-foot-6 senior point guard is back after missing all of last season because of a torn ACL. Started all 36 games for Kentucky's 2010 Elite Eight team. She has 80 career starts and is ninth on UK's all-time assist list (333). She is from Winter Haven, Fla. (Winter Haven High School). She has already graduated with a degree in integrated strategic communications and is working on a second bachelor's degree.

Matthew Mitchell says: "She has a little bit of rust (in her game). She has not played in more than a year in a game, so I think she is right on schedule if not a little ahead of schedule. Physically, she is doing great. Now it is that final hurdle of having the total belief that (she is) all the way back."

Keyla Snowden

Vitals: The 5-foot-7 senior guard is a long-distance shooting ace (team-best 65 three-pointers made a season ago). She played in 30 games a season ago, starting 17, and averaged 9.6 points. Has battled leg and knee issues this pre-season. Played one season at Akron before transferring to UK. She is from Lexington (Lexington Catholic High School). She has already graduated with a degree in communication and is pursuing a second degree in media arts and studies.

Matthew Mitchell says: "I'm not sure, exactly, what she is going to look like right here at the beginning of the season because she's been slowed a little bit. But it has been my experience that, seniors who have had success, find a way that senior year to make a difference. I just think she'll be there for us."

DeNesha Stallworth

Vitals: The 6-foot-3 junior center is sitting out this season as a redshirt after transferring to UK from California. She was first-team All-Pac 10 a season ago after averaging 13.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg at Cal. Picked UK over LSU and Florida after deciding to transfer. Will have two seasons of eligibility starting in 2012-13. The 2009 McDonald's All-American is from Richmond, Calif. (Pinole Valley High School). Her major is education.

Matthew Mitchell says: "Oh, man, she is incredible. Got to be one of the most talented players we've ever had here. ... There was a reason she was a McDonald's All-American. There was a reason she was first-team All-Pac 10. She is really, really good."

Samarie Walker

Vitals: The 6-foot-1 sophomore forward will be eligible when the first semester ends (first game should be against Notre Dame) after transferring to UK from Connecticut. In 17 games at UConn last season, she averaged 6.2 points and 5.8 rebounds, and shot 58.7 percent from the floor. A 2010 McDonald's All-American, she is from Dayton, Ohio (Chaminade-Julienne High School). Her major is merchandising, apparel, and textiles.

Matthew Mitchell says: "A very, very physically gifted player. She's really, really hard on herself. The biggest challenge for me as a coach right now is to get her to relax a little bit and let the game come to her and not to let one bad play affect the next two or three plays."